NEED HELP PLEASE... another lift question.

[4RunnERD]

Hello everyone! I am new owner of 2006 Sport Edition 4x4 V8 tr4. I want to level/lift it and I'm unsure which kit to go with. I want something that will:

-work with X-Reas
-cheap in price but not quality
-won't sacrifice ride quality or have a significant negative impact on the OEM suspenion components such as over-exstension issues.

After reading A LOT of threads it seems like Daystar may be the way to go, and they make a kit with no preload spacers (to maintain ride quality and easy install), but I'm concerned with it being all top out... has anyone had issues with the all top out set up? I read J.A.'s site where he said he would be concerned about this as well. I will never do any serious off roading, but still want something that will handle the beach or the occasional trail.

Will Cornfed or Toytec spacer lifts work with X-Reas?

Thanks for any input and sorry for the ridiculously long post, but the more I read the more I get confussed.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

All spacer lifts and definitely those two you mentioned will work with xreas. In theory over extension is possible but I'm not sure its ever been a problem for anyone. With any spacer lift you run that risk but personally its not one I'm concerned about. That Daystar kit works very well and is priced right so its hard to beat for mild off road use. Anything serious you'll want more though.

 

[4RunnERD]

All spacer lifts and definitely those two you mentioned will work with xreas. In theory over extension is possible but I'm not sure its ever been a problem for anyone. With any spacer lift you run that risk but personally its not one I'm concerned about. That Daystar kit works very well and is priced right so its hard to beat for mild off road use. Anything serious you'll want more though.

Is the over exstension possibilty only an issue during off road use or is there the possibility for it to occur on normal roads as well?

I am new to the whole suspesion geometry and lifting thing so I guess I don't really know what parts could over extend and why? Does anyone have a basic explanation I might undersatnd?

Basically I want the level/lifted look, but not at the cost of ruining other OEM equipment on the vehicle. I don't want to cut the normal life of the OEM ball joints, control arms, ect. in half just to achieve a look. If I can do it without out terrible amounts of strain on other parts than I will.

 

[4RunnERD]

Also I have notice a lot people using suspension parts from the FJ. For instance FJ springs and a spacer in the rear and another spacer up front. What is the reason some people go this route instead of just using a spacer only kit for the front and rear? Is there any combination of FJ parts and spacer kits that I can use without having to cut out the X-Reas?

Sorry if this is a simple question or below most of you, like I said I am new this stuff and just looking for some good opinions from people who know what they are doing. Thanks!

 

[Levinz11]

Just get the Daystar 2.5/1.5 and call it a day. Search and you will find many threads on the kit. You'll keep your factory ride and only spend $150 ish.

Good Luck

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Overextension is an issue with the shock itself. I could try to explain it but I'd probably only confuse you more. Overextension should only be an issue off road.

I used the FJ springs because I wanted to level my 4runner, not lift (just raise the front). I couldn't find a spacer that offered 1.5" lift, which was my target. I was able to use a 1" spacer (due to suspension gemoetry a 1/2" thick spacer yeilds 1" lift, so my spacer was 1/2" thick) and the FJ springs (which provided 1/2" lift) to get my desired lift. The FJ springs provide a little lift and are a tad bit more stiff then OEM. The extra stiffness is nice because it means less sag when under load and also has improved ride quality. My 4runner is much smoother now than before. It all depends on what your looking to do. The FJ springs were readily available at the time I did mine at little to nothing (got mine free). The FJ guys have caught on and are now charging an arm and a leg for them. If you can still find them relatively cheap, I'd definitely consider them (you'll want front and rear).

If you want to keep XREAS you can't replace the shocks, but things like aftermarket coils (or FJ coils) and strut spacers will be compatible.

 

[4RunnERD]

Overextension is an issue with the shock itself. I could try to explain it but I'd probably only confuse you more. Overextension should only be an issue off road.

I used the FJ springs because I wanted to level my 4runner, not lift (just raise the front). I couldn't find a spacer that offered 1.5" lift, which was my target. I was able to use a 1" spacer (due to suspension gemoetry a 1/2" thick spacer yeilds 1" lift, so my spacer was 1/2" thick) and the FJ springs (which provided 1/2" lift) to get my desired lift. The FJ springs provide a little lift and are a tad bit more stiff then OEM. The extra stiffness is nice because it means less sag when under load and also has improved ride quality. My 4runner is much smoother now than before. It all depends on what your looking to do. The FJ springs were readily available at the time I did mine at little to nothing (got mine free). The FJ guys have caught on and are now charging an arm and a leg for them. If you can still find them relatively cheap, I'd definitely consider them (you'll want front and rear).

If you want to keep XREAS you can't replace the shocks, but things like aftermarket coils (or FJ coils) and strut spacers will be compatible.

Thanks! That's great to know, I always wondered why people went with the FJ springs. Do all FJ springs provide the same 1/2" lift? I would imagine there are different versions of the FJ springs too? Does the year matter at all if I can them at a decent price?

I'll do a search (already have done a bunch), but sometimes it is hard to find the specific information your looking for with all the threads on here. Plus, a lot of the pictures on some of the older threads don't show up any more (atleast for me). I wonder if the site takes these older pictures down for site storage/space issues?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

I don't think they take them down, it's probably caused by the photo hosting site used (people move pics in their albums and the links no longer work).

Across all models of the FJ cruiser (2007-2009) there are only two different springs. One is for the 2wd FJ and the other is for the 4wd. You want the 4wd, as the 2wd ones would likely not offer any benefit (I know they are shorter than the 4wd ones). 2010 Fj coils (from what I hear, I only know of one member using them, leftyguns21) are still a direct swap and are beefier than the 07-09 ones.

The lift gained depends on your 4runner. Most will get .25", some have gotten .5" in the rear. The front is dependant on if you have a v6 or v8 and 2wd or 4wd. A 4wd v8 gets around .5" in the front. If it's a 2wd or a v6 expect closer to 1". If it's a 2wd and v6 execpt a little over 1". Yours would get around .5" front and .25" rear. Check out the last link listed in my sig, I've got a chart in that post showing the members who've done the swap, their setup, and the amount of lift they gained.

 

[4RunnERD]

I don't think they take them down, it's probably caused by the photo hosting site used (people move pics in their albums and the links no longer work).

Across all models of the FJ cruiser (2007-2009) there are only two different springs. One is for the 2wd FJ and the other is for the 4wd. You want the 4wd, as the 2wd ones would likely not offer any benefit (I know they are shorter than the 4wd ones). 2010 Fj coils (from what I hear, I only know of one member using them, leftyguns21) are still a direct swap and are beefier than the 07-09 ones.

The lift gained depends on your 4runner. Most will get .25", some have gotten .5" in the rear. The front is dependant on if you have a v6 or v8 and 2wd or 4wd. A 4wd v8 gets around .5" in the front. If it's a 2wd or a v6 expect closer to 1". If it's a 2wd and v6 execpt a little over 1". Yours would get around .5" front and .25" rear. Check out the last link listed in my sig, I've got a chart in that post showing the members who've done the swap, their setup, and the amount of lift they gained.

Thanks again for the info. I did check out you chart and found a few other FJ explanation threads. I noticed you only have the springs up front, but recomend I get them for the rear as well? I did a quick search on ebay and an FJ site and didn't find any for sale that weren't already sold. These must go pretty quickly now.

I like the idea of FJ spring setup a lot, but wonder how cost effective it will end up being compared to the daystar 2.5"/1.5" kit for around $150. Would the FJ springs up front (roughly 0.5" lift) with a 2" top spacer have less strain/overexstension possibillities than the 2.5" top out only spacer?

Again, keeping in mind that off road use will be minimal and mild maybe Daystar is the quickest most cost effective way to go.

 

[4RunnERD]

Just get the Daystar 2.5/1.5 and call it a day. Search and you will find many threads on the kit. You'll keep your factory ride and only spend $150 ish.

Good Luck

Do you have the older Daystar kit with a preload spacer and top out spacer or the newer comfort ride version with the all top out spacer? How long have you had it installed? Any issues with your OEM suspension components? Thanks!